Policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Rivers State have allegedly battered a man for failing to provide a receipt for a phone found on him.

According to a viral video posted on Instablog9ja, the incident reportedly occurred in Port Harcourt and was captured by an eyewitness in the area.

Three policemen could be seen beating one man identified as Lucky by the eyewitness who recorded the video.

One SARS official was also seen battering the hapless man with a machete.

The witness whose identity could not be ascertained, alleged in the footage that Lucky was battered because he failed to produce a receipt for his phone when he was accosted by the policemen.

He was said to have been freed after the intervention of some old men in the area and a payment of N30,000 to the officials.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, told our correspondent that though he would not support any act contrary to the law, the police would begin investigation on the story trending online.

Omoni explained that part of the investigation would unravel the identity of the persons in SARS uniform and the point where the incident happened.

“I have seen it (trending online story), but it is not too clear to me. Much as I cannot defend them; I cannot shield anybody, you cannot conclusively say they are men of SARS until we do a little investigation to ascertain their identity.

“I cannot shield any police officer who commits an offence, but you cannot conclusively say they are SARS until it is proven otherwise.”